Installing Corona

Locate the application disk image, for example Corona-2018.3326.dmg, and double click it. This should mount the disk image and, once you agree to the terms of service, present you with a disk image window:

Drag the Corona folder into the Applications folder alias. This will copy the contents of the folder into /Applications.

You can use Corona without installing Apple's Developer Kit or the Android SDK. Later, if you want to build and test your code on a iOS device, you will need to sign up as an Apple Developer and create the necessary certificates and provisioning profiles (guide).

Note

There are two ways to stay current with releases/builds of Corona:

Public Release — The latest stable release of Corona, providing maximum reliability for your projects. This is updated several times a year.

Daily Builds — The bleeding edge. Daily builds contain the latest features as they are integrated into Corona.

Product Activation

In order to use Corona, you must be connected to the Internet and perform a simple one-time authorization process.

Open the Corona Simulator from the folder where you installed it.

The first time you launch, you will be presented with a License Agreement (EULA). Read the license terms and click Agree.

If you've already registered for a Corona account, simply enter your account e-mail and password to activate the product. Otherwise, click Register to create an account.

Upon successful login, you will receive a confirmation dialog. You're ready to get started!

Java Development Kit

Installing Corona lets you create and test apps locally on your Mac. If you intend to build apps for testing on Android devices, you will need to install the Java Development Kit (JDK). If you try to build an Android app without the JDK installed, the Corona Simulator will help you install it. Alternatively, if you want to install it manually, you can follow these instructions:

Development Environment

The Corona development environment consists of two aspects: the Corona Simulator and the Corona Simulator Console.

The Corona Simulator is a visual representation and test environment for your app. What you see in the Simulator is generally what your app will look like — and how it will function — when deployed to an actual device. The Corona Simulator is an essential tool because it allows you to view changes to your code instantly in an active, responsive environment that closely mimics the device.

The Corona Simulator Console is where you can view diagnostic messages about what's happening in your program.

Simulator Options

The Corona Simulator for macOS features the following basic menu items:

The standard macOS application menu provides access to the Simulator Preferences. It also lets you manually open/run Corona Live Server for doing Live Builds on actual devices.

The File menu is where projects (applications) are created or opened. This is also where you build your apps for distribution or testing on devices.

The Hardware menu is used to simulate physical device actions such as rotating the screen.

The Window menu lets you open the Welcome Window which provides quick access to recent projects, Corona developer resources, and more. This menu also lets you access the Corona Simulator Console (Console). Finally, this menu includes options to manipulate the Simulator window or change the skin (Window → View As).

Getting Started

If you're new to Corona, the most fun way to learn is to create a simple game. Don't worry if you've never created a mobile app or programmed before — the chapters in the guide will walk you through the entire process from start to finish!